A high-stakes showdown is on tap this afternoon in Oxford. #13 Missouri (5-1, 2-1) keeps racking up wins, most recently dominating Texas A&M. Saturday’s matchup with #9 Ole Miss (4-1, 2-1) will be the biggest test yet for the Tigers. Despite a slip-up vs. Florida, the Rebels have their eyes set on a national title. Which one of these postseason contenders will come out on top in Week 7?
The Rebels are listed as 5.5-point favorites over the Tigers, with the total set at O/U 58.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Saturday’s Missouri vs. Ole Miss Week 7 matchup.
Missouri vs. Ole Miss prediction, preview
The big question looming all season for Mizzou has been the status of Ahmad Hardy. Sidelined due to a gunshot wound, the superstar running back has yet to take a snap this season. It doesn’t look like he’s close to making a return this weekend. Fortunately for the Tigers, former backup Jamal Roberts has been outstanding in an expanded role. Through six games, the senior has gained an SEC-best 828 yards in addition to eight touchdowns. He’s surpassed 200+ rushing yards in each of his previous two contests.
Make no mistake: this offense isn’t one-dimensional. Former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons has done a terrific job with his new school. This season, he’s thrown for 1,434 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interception. Simmons has formed an especially strong bond with Cayden Lee. The playmaking wideout leads the SEC with 616 receiving yards and has recorded 42 receptions through six games. Fellow pass catcher Donovan Olugbode has snagged a conference-best six touchdowns as well. Mizzou has recorded 390+ yards of offense in each of its first four matchups against Power Four opponents.
There’s no reason to think the Tigers won’t keep the momentum going on offense this weekend. Ole Miss did its job on defense last week, holding Vanderbilt to just 17 points. However, this group has looked off for most of the regular season. As a unit, they’ve surrendered the second-most yards per game (392.4) and third-most points per game (28.0) in the SEC. Most concerning, the Rebels are coughing up a whopping 176.4 rushing yards per game. That doesn’t bode well going into a matchup with the conference’s leading rusher. To make matters worse, safety Edwin Joseph (ankle) has been ruled out.
Still, Ole Miss remains a college football juggernaut thanks to its high-powered offense. Trinidad Chambliss is a potential first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Over five games, the quarterback has thrown for 1,435 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. In addition, he’s gained 113 yards and five more scores on the ground. Much like Missouri, the Rebels have put up points despite some injuries in the backfield. However, star running back Kewan Lacy was able to suit up last weekend vs. Vandy, although he only handled seven carries. At minimum, he should see a slight uptick in usage on Saturday.
Unlike Ole Miss, this Tigers defense has done its job in 2026. They rank sixth in the SEC with 302.5 yards per game. Most recently, Eli Drinkwitz’s crew held Texas A&M to just six points and 217 total yards of offense. It all starts up front; Missouri has allowed a conference-best 2.44 yards per rush attempt to opponents. However, this group is beatable through the air. Mizzou has made up for a decent, albeit unspectacular, secondary thanks to its stellar pass rush. With that being said, the Rebels are even better when it comes to keeping Chambliss upright. They’ve only allowed 5.0 sacks; generating pressure could prove difficult for the visitors.
Best Bet: Missouri vs. Ole Miss over 58.5 points (-115)
A massive total such as this one can intimidate bettors, and it’s easy to see why. Missouri wields an above-average defense, while Ole Miss looked like a much better unit last week. Regardless, this has all the necessary ingredients to go over. Chambliss, even during Mississippi’s lone defeat, has been phenomenal. Mizzou struggled during its lone road game this season at Mississippi State; Kamario Taylor torched the Tigers en route to 31 points. On the other side, Roberts shouldn’t have much difficulty finding lanes against a defensive line that can’t stop the run. Given the amount of offensive talent on both sides, a shootout feels likelier than not.
